Ambassador new launch

For John B. Emerson and his wife Kimberly, the Berlin appointment is a return to their German roots. Their heritage is German through his paternal and her maternal grandparents. He began to study German at age 12, Emerson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in July, adding that "may have had more to do with the fact that my father and grandmother would speak it when they didn't want me to know what they were discussing. " A man of many talents The 59-year-old has repeatedly proven that he is determined and success-oriented. He studied law, philosophy and administration. After graduating law school, he first practiced at a law firm in the 1980s, and later served as prosecutor at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. From 1993 to 1997, Emerson served as advisor on trade issues to President Bill Clinton, as well as presidential liaison officer to the state governors. President Obama also profits from Emerson's business expertise: in 2010, the president appointed Emerson, who … [Read more...] about New US ambassador: ‘Thrilled to be in Berlin’

The international community was swift to condemn the launch by North Korea on Sunday morning of what Pyongyang claims was a rocket to put a satellite into orbit. South Korea, which firmly believes the launch was a test of a long-range ballistic missile, was quick to declare that it was opening discussions with the United States about deploying state-of-the-art defensive missile systems. The decision prompted anger in China, which swiftly summoned the South Korean ambassador to Beijing to express its opposition, and the concern now is that countries in the region - already tense - may be stumbling into a tit-for-tat escalation of military spending. Seoul has been debating the introduction of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system for at least two years, but has always deferred a final decision out of consideration for China. The two neighbors have grown closer in recent years - in terms of trade, economics and even on security issues - and South Korea has had no desire … [Read more...] about Seoul plans to deploy new missiles, debates nuclear deterrent

Brazil is counting on a new export hit: literature. As this year's guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair (October 9 to 13), Latin America's largest country is advertising its literary assets with 70 authors and 164 publishers. "We want to show that we understand the international market and can sell our titles," said Karine Pansa, president of the Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL), adding that the German book market is promising and has a big following around the world. Until now, Brazil hasn't been seen as an exporter of literature, but rather, a buyer of authors' rights. But things are changing. By the year 2020, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture is set to invest 26 million euros ($35 million) in domestic authors. The public funds are earmarked for scholarships for translators and authors, as well as exchange programs and Brazil's participation at international book fairs. Center stage in Frankfurt Brazil's presence in Frankfurt is ambitious. The Brazilian government has invested … [Read more...] about Literature is Brazil’s new export

Haley used her first appearance at the UN Security Council on Thursday to speak out against Moscow's alleged role in ongoing fighting in Ukraine, as critics of President Donald Trump accused the new administration of sidling up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Haley said that it was "unfortunate" that she had to use her first public appearance at the Council to criticize Russia over its "aggressive actions" but warned that escalating violence was endangering thousands of civilians. "We do want to better our relations with Russia," she said. "However the dire situation in eastern Ukraine is one that demands clear and strong condemnations of Russian actions." Critics in the US have lashed out over the Trump Administration's perceived closeness to Moscow. Newly appointed Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil, has close associations with Putin and has openly opposed sanctions levelled against Moscow. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, meanwhile, was … [Read more...] about US Ambassador to the UN condemns Russian actions in Ukraine

Germany, France, Britain and the US jointly condemned Iran's July 27 satellite launch in a letter to the United Nations sent Wednesday. The allies said Iran's rocket launch was inconsistent with the terms of the nuclear pact signed by Iran in July 2015. "The Simorgh is a space launch vehicle that, if configured as a ballistic missile, would have a range of well over 300 kilometres (185 miles) and has enough payload capacity to carry a nuclear warhead," the letter to the UN Security Council read. Read more: Iran vows to continue missile program as tensions with US flare "This launch therefore represents a threatening and provocative step by Iran." The letter was sent by US Ambassador Nikki Haley on behalf of the four countries. Haley posted a copy of the letter on Twitter. Rocket carried satellite to space The rocket was the country's most advanced satellite-carrying rocket to date, marking the most significant step forward for Iran's young space program. Tehran's launch was … [Read more...] about Iran rocket launch condemned by Germany, France, UK and US

The United Nations Security Council said Monday it would impose additional sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's latest launch of a ballistic missile at the weekend. All 15 council members, including the North's closest ally China, approved the statement which accused the North of "destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance." Council members vowed to "fully and comprehensively" implement the six rounds of sanctions the UN's most powerful body has already imposed against North Korea, and vowed a stepped-up response. Immediate halt demanded To reduce tensions on the Korean peninsula, the council demanded that Pyongyang halt its nuclear and missile tests. France's UN Ambassador Francois Delattre confirmed the council would hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Tuesday to discuss new sanctions. Sunday's missile was fired from a location near the city of Pukchang, north of the capital, and soared some 500 kilometers (around 300 miles) before falling … [Read more...] about UN Security Council vows new sanctions on North Korea

At a ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, Nadia Murad Basee Taha became the first trafficking victim to take up the position of UN goodwill ambassador. Murad was taken from her home village of Kocho near Iraq's northern town of Sinjar in August 2014 and brought to "Islamic State" (IS)-controlled Mosul, where she was gang-raped, and bought and sold many times, along with thousands of other Yazidi girls and women. Many have since died, or still remain in captivity. After three months of captivity, Murad was able to escape and has since been resettled in Germany. Call for recognition Following her ordeal, Murad has called for justice for the victims of the jihadist group and argued that the 2014 attack on the Yazidis should be recognized as genocide. "I was used in the way that they wanted to use me. I was not alone," Murad said during Friday's ceremony. "Perhaps I was the lucky one. As time passed, I found a way to escape where thousands others could not. They are … [Read more...] about ‘Islamic State’ sex slavery survivor named United Nations goodwill ambassador

Speaking in Bucharest, Assistant Secretary of State Frank Rose told a news conference before the system was made operationathat turning on the defense shield did not represent a security threat to Moscow, despite the Kremlin's concerns. The site is set to go live on Thursday. "Both the US and NATO have made it clear the system is not designed for or capable of undermining Russia's strategic deterrence capability," Rose told reporters. "Russia has repeatedly raised concerns that the US and NATO defense are directed against Russia and represents a threat to its strategic nuclear deterrent. Nothing could be further from the truth." Work on the Deveselu station, in the south of Romania, began in October 2013 and is estimated to have cost some $800 million (700 million euros). The station will be equipped with a battery of SM-2 missile interceptors and will be officially inaugurated into the NATO missile defense shield at the organization's summit in Warsaw in July. Kremlin concerns … [Read more...] about US to launch NATO missile defense shield in Romania despite Moscow concerns

Pakistan's counter-terrorism force registered a case against the alleged attackers of the Pathankot air base in India. The January 2 assault killed seven Indian soldiers and all six terrorists, which New Delhi claims had come from Pakistan. Rana Sanaullah, a provincial minister, told reporters in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore that the case was registered on the basis of information provided by the Indian government. Last month, Pakistani authorities arrested several members of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad Islamist group, which is believed to be linked to the Pathankot assault. They also took the leader of the group, Masood Azhar, into "protective custody" for interrogation. "We will not allow 'non-state actors' to use Pakistani soil to plot terror attacks on other countries," Sanaullah said Friday. Indian concerns But New Delhi appears far from pleased by Islamabad's efforts so far. "They [Pakistani officials] have to investigate the role of the people in their … [Read more...] about Pakistan launches probe into Indian air base attack

Brussels is taking the divorce hard and wants to make sure Britain doesn't have it easy either. Holding the official letter from British Prime Minister Theresa May aloft on Wednesday, European Council President Donald Tusk was emotional. "There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day, neither in Brussels, nor in London," Tusk told a briefing of reporters shortly after the document was delivered by British Ambassador Sir Tim Farrow. "After all, most Europeans - including almost half of British voters - wish that we would stay together, not drift apart. As for me I will not pretend that I am happy today." "It's the first time that a member state has decided to leave us," lamented European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. "Although we fully respect the democratic will of the majority of the British people, today is not a good day for Europe." Tracking events from Washington, Nile Gardiner, of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, dismisses all the angst. A former … [Read more...] about EU leaders summon bravado as UK launches Brexit